Story Feedback 2

It's only about 2 weeks until the July 15, 2021 deadline for the awesome August 2021 issue of Electric Spec. Get those stories in!
We are deep in the slush pile...
Here's some tips:

• Your page one needs to be very good. We get hundreds of stories, so, sadly, if your story opening isn't good, we probably won't keep reading. This means:
  • formatting should be appropriate
  • minimize grammar and spelling errors
  • the content should be clear and interesting
  • I recommend having someone else read your opening. Ask him/her what the story is about, or what's intriguing. If they can't tell you--modify the opening.
• Write about something we like (How do you know this? Read previous issues.)
  • one editor loves dragons
  • one editor enjoys unresolved/open endings
  • one editor enjoys time travel, alternate worlds, quantum ideas
  • consider steam-punk or genre mashups
• Consider a first line hook
  • this probably isn't a long description
  • this probably isn't dialogue
  • the author telling the reader something can be effective here

Good luck!

Story Feedback

Savvy writers know the submission deadline for the awesome August 2021 issue of Electric Spec is coming up on July 15, 2021! Get those stories in!

We have started working on the new issue, in particular, on stories in the slush pile. We periodically get requests for story feedback from editors. Sorry! We can't do that except... right here! So here you go:

• Be wary of starting your story with the protagonist waking up. (We see this A LOT.)
• Do submit your story as an attachment in the correct format.
• Do include a cover letter with the word count. There is no need to summarize the story. If the editor can't figure it out...not good.
• Do include some kind of speculative element in your story.
• Do write something original and unique.
• Do read earlier versions of the ezine so you know what we like. The good news is: they're free!

We'll probably include more tips right here next week.
Good luck with your writing!

market resources

There are many on-line resources for authors seeking markets for their fiction.
My fave is: https://ralan.com/ .
Obviously, if you are reading this, you are familiar with the best spec fic market of all: Electric Spec! :)
I heard about an article on authorspublish.com recently: 28 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Markets That Pay.

They say: Electric Spec is a speculative fiction magazine that is published four times per year and they will consider any story between 250 and 7,000 words with speculative fiction elements. They prefer science fiction, fantasy and the macabre, and pay $20 for every story they publish. Although they don’t acknowledge story receipt, they aim to respond within 135 days by email, with a “reject”, “accept”, or “hold-for-voting” message. If you haven’t received any message by that time, please resubmit. Take a look at their submission guidelines here. Read the current and previous issues here.
I didn't include their links.

I must admit I don't know much about this site, but it's nice to be mentioned. If you do know about it, feel free to comment. ;)

Electric Spec is currently accepting submissions!

56th Annual Nebula Awards

Perhaps it's a bit old-fashioned, but I've always been a big fan of the Science Fiction/Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and their annual awards, the Nebulas. This past Saturday they announced the winners of the 56th annual awards. They include

• BEST NOVEL Network Effect, Martha Wells (Tordotcom)
• BEST NOVELLA Ring Shout, P. Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom)
• BEST NOVELETTE "Two Truths and a Lie", Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com)
• BEST SHORT STORY "Open House on Haunted Hill", John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots)

Congratulations to the winners and all the nominees!
I believe you can see the ceremony on sfwa_youtube.

basking in the glow

We are still basking in the glow of the new isssue of Electric Spec.
In this issue, we're proud to share:

• "A Touch of Cooperation" by D. A. D'Amacio--There's a great prize to be had on a hostile alien world, but no single person has the strength to claim it.
• "The Kipnibble Singularity" by Andrea M. Pawley--When an AI society arises in the most unlikely of places, how will they treat humans... or cats, for that matter?
• "Jeremy Sleeps" by Elizabeth Guilt--To be in love is to share our dreams... yet for one woman, the experience is anything but a honeymoon.
• "The Law of Stonekin" by Sean Mabry--In gargoyle culture, there are a few simple rules for survival. Then there's always that one person who has to push the limits...
• "The Annie Scam" by Luke Foster--Social media gives us a seductive illusion of connection--and for one influencer, reality crashes down in a startling way.

Woo hoo!
Check it out!